Verizon will help "shape" Ubuntu phone OS, possibly sell the phones.

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Verizon Wireless today joined Canonical's "Ubuntu Carrier Advisory Group (CAG)," meaning the company is exploring smartphones based on Ubuntu. Canonical unveiled the advisory group last month, saying members will be the only ones to get "access to early information about Ubuntu and device manufacturer plans to support the OS, as well as the opportunity to be a launch partner for Ubuntu on smartphones."

The first mobile operators to join were all from outside the US. With Verizon Wireless on board, there is now a greater possibility of Ubuntu smartphones going on sale in the US.

Canonical's announcement noted that "Verizon is the largest mobile network operator in the US and being able to work closely with them gives us an opportunity to shape Ubuntu into the most compelling new, alternative platform for mobile."

Canonical quoted Verizon Device Technology Director Samir Vaidya as saying, "Verizon Wireless is joining Ubuntu’s Carrier Advisory Group to participate in technology discussions around this new platform, which has the ability to bring new and exciting features to developers and ultimately, customers.”

We've asked Canonical and Verizon Wireless if Verizon has any specific plans to release Ubuntu phones. Canonical told us that "Verizon Wireless joining the CAG does not mean that they are committed to selling Ubuntu phones. The CAG is a forum for mobile operators to influence the development of Ubuntu for smartphones and Verizon Wireless will be part of the discussions that happen in that forum."

Verizon said much the same thing. "We’re looking forward to participating in the Carrier Advisory Group to listen and learn more about this platform," a Verizon spokesperson said. "We’ve always supported multiple mobile operating systems, but ... today’s news doesn’t mean that we’re committing to selling Ubuntu phones."

Although no specific devices have been unveiled thus far, Canonical has that said phones preinstalled with Ubuntu are likely to hit retail in Q1 2014.

Canonical is still trying to expand the list of potential launch partners and is playing up the benefits of joining the CAG. Members will get early information on chipmaker, OEM, and ODM plans to support Ubuntu for mobile.

"[M]embers can launch Ubuntu devices before non-members in local markets. The first two launch partners will be selected from within the group, with the next wave following six months later," Canonical says. "Non-members will face a substantial wait to gain access to the platform."

I am not saying this can't work, but Canonical has a lot of muscle to push against if they want to make a play in the mobile market, especially in North America. Offering a cheap, effective OS in places where users aren't buying up $700 phones every year or two might give them some traction if they want to make it work, but I still worry this isn't something worth buying as much as it is something that is different from everything else.

Well, so much for that. It was nice to think for a little while that we'd get an OS unencumbered by carrier bullshit.

If you believed that you were a gullible ding-dong.There is no real market demand for Ubuntu phones. The only reason any carrier would bother with them is if they have total control over them and can use them for their nefarious purposes.

I am not saying this can't work, but Canonical has a lot of muscle to push against if they want to make a play in the mobile market, especially in North America. Offering a cheap, effective OS in places where users aren't buying up $700 phones every year or two might give them some traction if they want to make it work, but I still worry this isn't something worth buying as much as it is something that is different from everything else.

You need to wait until it is released to decide what market it deserves to fill. It has some features that are very... compelling. For business and consumer alike.

Well, so much for that. It was nice to think for a little while that we'd get an OS unencumbered by carrier bullshit.

If you believed that you were a gullible ding-dong.There is no real market demand for Ubuntu phones. The only reason any carrier would bother with them is if they have total control over them and can use them for their nefarious purposes.

Not to mention that Shuttleworth specifically mentioned that Canonical was going to make it easy for carriers to take over Ubuntu phone and fill it with shovelware.

Well, so much for that. It was nice to think for a little while that we'd get an OS unencumbered by carrier bullshit.

If you believed that you were a gullible ding-dong.There is no real market demand for Ubuntu phones. The only reason any carrier would bother with them is if they have total control over them and can use them for their nefarious purposes.

Drats! you've ousted the evil plan! Now what are we going to do with this OS that totally didn't have unique and powerful features of its own? /s

Well, so much for that. It was nice to think for a little while that we'd get an OS unencumbered by carrier bullshit.

If you believed that you were a gullible ding-dong.There is no real market demand for Ubuntu phones. The only reason any carrier would bother with them is if they have total control over them and can use them for their nefarious purposes.

Drats! you've ousted the evil plan! Now what are we going to do with this OS that totally didn't have unique and powerful features of its own? /s

Oh yeah, I forgot, there actually is an OS unencumbered by carrier bullshit: iOS

Don't get me started on the tablet version. I tried it out and instantly begged for android. Faster than you can say "bricked"

The phone version is much further along than the tablet version... but even so, we're still talking about something clearly labeled a developer preview. That means, a preview release so developers can make apps for it. It's nowhere near ready to replace a consumer ready OS like Android or iOS. When it is released, then it'll be time to compete with the other OSes.

I am waiting impatiently for the day I can plug my phone into a monitor and USB hub and use it as a Linux desktop. But not your way, Canonical. Build your stuff INTO Android, so it's both, or GTFO. The killer app is clear: Android + Linux desktop (with the ability to run Android apps from that desktop). This would compete directly with the whole Windows 8/"Meh"tro spaghetti ball. All those android apps, plus full Linux desktop, plus the option of even maybe running full Windows in a VM (if the device uses an Intel chip)?

I am not saying this can't work, but Canonical has a lot of muscle to push against if they want to make a play in the mobile market, especially in North America. Offering a cheap, effective OS in places where users aren't buying up $700 phones every year or two might give them some traction if they want to make it work, but I still worry this isn't something worth buying as much as it is something that is different from everything else.

You need to wait until it is released to decide what market it deserves to fill. It has some features that are very... compelling. For business and consumer alike.

In theory,you're right - it has certain features that make it compelling as a mobile OS. In practice,however, having a good or even great product can't guarantee you sales or mindshare (ie - WebOS)

Well, so much for that. It was nice to think for a little while that we'd get an OS unencumbered by carrier bullshit.

If you believed that you were a gullible ding-dong.There is no real market demand for Ubuntu phones. The only reason any carrier would bother with them is if they have total control over them and can use them for their nefarious purposes.

Drats! you've ousted the evil plan! Now what are we going to do with this OS that totally didn't have unique and powerful features of its own? /s

Oh yeah, I forgot, there actually is an OS unencumbered by carrier bullshit: iOS

True. But not because of any benevolent intention on the part of Apple or the carriers. That resulted from the expected phenomenon of Apple using their 1600lbs of gorilla weight to make sure they gain and keep total, complete control of everything they touch. Good for them, good for their customers in some respects... but with no concern for the massive collateral damage (to the competitive ecosystem (books, anyone), to the idea of an open software market (adult software? Nope! Uncle Apple declares you to be a child), to the patent system) they inflict in the process.

I am not saying this can't work, but Canonical has a lot of muscle to push against if they want to make a play in the mobile market, especially in North America. Offering a cheap, effective OS in places where users aren't buying up $700 phones every year or two might give them some traction if they want to make it work, but I still worry this isn't something worth buying as much as it is something that is different from everything else.

You need to wait until it is released to decide what market it deserves to fill. It has some features that are very... compelling. For business and consumer alike.

In theory,you're right - it has certain features that make it compelling as a mobile OS. In practice,however, having a good or even great product can't guarantee you sales or mindshare (ie - WebOS)

I'm certainly interested in this (and Mozilla's OS) for the same reasons I picked WebOS -- to keep out of a walled garden and to limit Google's surveillance.

On the other hand, the above sentence proves that I sure know how to pick a winner.

i have been eying ubuntufone and firefoxfone with great interest. i'm willing to forego angry birds if it means being able to completely code up my own experience. you can always root an android phone, but more often than not it's messy and draws carrier hostility.

I am waiting impatiently for the day I can plug my phone into a monitor and USB hub and use it as a Linux desktop. But not your way, Canonical. Build your stuff INTO Android, so it's both, or GTFO. The killer app is clear: Android + Linux desktop (with the ability to run Android apps from that desktop). This would compete directly with the whole Windows 8/"Meh"tro spaghetti ball. All those android apps, plus full Linux desktop, plus the option of even maybe running full Windows in a VM (if the device uses an Intel chip)?

I can hardly wait.

I'd just be happy if I could run a few Android apps on my Linux desktop. There was a lot of buzz about that last year when the Android kernel was merged back in to the mainline Linux kernel, but I haven't heard much about it since.

Ultimately, though, I'd love to trade in my Android phone for one that's more open and not joined at the hip to Google. I'm really hoping Firefox OS gets some traction.

I am waiting impatiently for the day I can plug my phone into a monitor and USB hub and use it as a Linux desktop. But not your way, Canonical. Build your stuff INTO Android, so it's both, or GTFO. The killer app is clear: Android + Linux desktop (with the ability to run Android apps from that desktop). This would compete directly with the whole Windows 8/"Meh"tro spaghetti ball. All those android apps, plus full Linux desktop, plus the option of even maybe running full Windows in a VM (if the device uses an Intel chip)?

The amount of weasel words in this article makes my eyes hurt. But it would be interesting if a major carrier like Verizon standardized their low-end phones on a mobile OS instead of rolling their own.

Well, so much for that. It was nice to think for a little while that we'd get an OS unencumbered by carrier bullshit.

If you believed that you were a gullible ding-dong.There is no real market demand for Ubuntu phones. The only reason any carrier would bother with them is if they have total control over them and can use them for their nefarious purposes.

Not to mention that Shuttleworth specifically mentioned that Canonical was going to make it easy for carriers to take over Ubuntu phone and fill it with shovelware.

Don't get me started on the tablet version. I tried it out and instantly begged for android. Faster than you can say "bricked"

The phone version is much further along than the tablet version... but even so, we're still talking about something clearly labeled a developer preview. That means, a preview release so developers can make apps for it. It's nowhere near ready to replace a consumer ready OS like Android or iOS. When it is released, then it'll be time to compete with the other OSes.

I am waiting impatiently for the day I can plug my phone into a monitor and USB hub and use it as a Linux desktop. But not your way, Canonical. Build your stuff INTO Android, so it's both, or GTFO. The killer app is clear: Android + Linux desktop (with the ability to run Android apps from that desktop). This would compete directly with the whole Windows 8/"Meh"tro spaghetti ball. All those android apps, plus full Linux desktop, plus the option of even maybe running full Windows in a VM (if the device uses an Intel chip)?

edit: ah, that actually looks pretty interesting. Not quite a full merger, but at least the ability to run a desktop environment and Android at the same time. Nice. How to get and support this capability onto general Android devices is the challenge, though, since not many people still have the S2.

So Verizon Wireless will sell Ubuntu phones? The store salesfolk will still try to talk everyone into a GS4 on display in the front of the store beside the iPhone before showing the customer the Ubuntu phone way in the back, that may or may not work...and possibly on a display that says BlackBerry Storm Exclusively at Verizon Wireless...